Good points on copper flashing—definitely holds up better in salty air. I've inspected plenty of coastal homes, and aluminum flashing usually shows corrosion within just a few years. One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone tried stainless steel flashing in oceanfront areas? I've seen it used occasionally inland, but not sure if the salt air affects it much differently...
"One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone tried stainless steel flashing in oceanfront areas?"
I've seen stainless steel flashing used a few times near the coast. Holds up pretty well overall—definitely better than aluminum—but it's not bulletproof. Salt air can still cause minor surface rust spots, especially around fasteners or cut edges. Still, nothing major structurally. Copper's probably your best bet long-term, but stainless is a solid runner-up if budget's tight. Plus, seagulls seem less interested in pecking at it...bonus points there.
I've noticed the same thing about stainless steel—holds up pretty well overall, but not totally immune to salt air. We had some installed a few years back, and it's mostly fine except around the screws and edges where there's a bit of discoloration. Copper sounds great, but the price tag...ouch. Curious if anyone's tried coated galvanized flashing near the ocean? Wondering how long that coating actually lasts in salty conditions.
I've seen coated galvanized flashing used near the coast a few times. Honestly, it holds up okay for a while, but once that coating gets nicked or scratched (and it always does eventually...), rust creeps in pretty fast. Still, cheaper than copper by a mile.
We had a similar issue at one of our beachfront properties. Went with galvanized flashing initially because the price difference was just too tempting. It looked great at first, but after a couple years, especially after some storm debris scratched it up, rust spots started popping up everywhere. Ended up replacing sections way sooner than expected. Honestly, if you're planning long-term, copper or stainless steel might actually save you money (and headaches) down the road...just something to consider.
